>> surprised by the fact that no one has suggested any wireless
- server space was mentioned ... which to me includes space for stuff that goes with servers
- don't install fiber now ... use the delta in price between fiber components (esp. NICs!) to pay for the PVC ... pull the fiber through later ... could change-out the house system in less than a day, termination, NICs, and all. Fiber buys nothing in the home today.
- any future wireless products are most likely to operate off termination points compatible with Ethernet, or directly connected with servers ... I see the proposed infrastructure perfectly compatible with future wireless options.
- Re server, router, proxy, firewall, etc ... it's very hard to make an argument against installing Win2k ... it's all right there in the box ... and MS has put a LOT of effort into making it useable in SOHO contexts.
I focused on installing a conduit system and commodity LAN components because I think this approach is both cheaper and more functional moving into the future.
Any counter-argument to this approach (all fiber now, wireless now) fails against the rock of their incompleteness.
No one of these technologies currently handles all the home functionality at a reasonable price/performance level.
Fiber will someday.
Wireless will someday.
They don't currently.
Example: Install fiber or wireless now, and you'll still have to pull cable for the HVAC control, or some other not-yet-integrated function.
Instead of thinking CAT-5, or RG, or fiber, or ??? ... think pipes and strings ... then you are ready for anything.
Pipes and strings are the most "integrated solution" ... funny, eh? They create the most options at the cheapest price. They enable use of cheap, commonly available, commodity components which offer the best performance/price.
In the future, there will be wireless or fiber "total home solutions" ... but they are just beginning to take shape now ... and buying into any current approach leaves one open to ... yes, sawing sheetrock later.
All this is apropos the question "what to do now?"
By the time "pipes and string" is not the answer, new homes will be built with fiber or wireless commodity solutions. And want to bet folks will still pull wires in those homes? |
